Lawn game device with swung launching stick

Abstract

A lawn game device including targets and a plurality of missiles or projectiles launched or projected toward the targets by the use launching sticks swung by the players somewhat in the nature of swinging a golf club or hockey stick with the missiles being supported in launching position by a cradle tee. Each target is in the form of an annular member of frustoconical configuration supported generally in an upright condition from the ground surface. Each missile is in the form of a cylindrical member having a rounded nose, stabilizing vanes at the rear thereof and a plurality of rearwardly and outwardly inclined hooks adjacent the forward end thereof for engagement by a launching stick. The launching stick includes an elongated handle with a downwardly opening arch at the lower end thereof with a resilient band extending across the open end of the arch to engage the hooks on the missile. The cradle tee is in the form of a pointed ground inserted peg or stake having a generally semi-circular cradle at the upper end thereof for supporting the cylindrical missile at a point adjacent the forward end thereof.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 
     
       1. In a lawn game device, a missile comprising an elongated member having a nose at the forward end thereof and stabilizing vane means at the rear thereof, and a laterally and rearwardly inclined projection on said elongated member adjacent the nose adapted to be engaged by a launching device, a launching stick comprising an elongated handle for manual gripping and swinging, a downwardly opening arch at the lower end of said handle with the arch including parallel, spaced legs, and a resilient band interconnecting the terminal ends of the legs and engaging under the projection during arcuate swinging movement of the launching stick in a path to bring the resilient band into engagement with the projection for projecting the missile in a desired trajectory, and a cradle tee supporting the forward end of the missile above a supporting surface, said tee including a ground stake and a generally U-shaped cradle at the upper end for engagement with said elongated member rearwardly of the projection, a target for the missile comprising an annular member, a ground stake connected to said annular member for insertion into the ground to support the annular member in generally upright position, said annular member being frustoconical in configuration and oriented in inclined relation to a vertical plane so that the opening defining the center of the annular member has its periphery generally perpendicular to the path of trajectory of the missile as it approaches the target. 
     
     
       2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said vane means including three equally spaced, radially extending and longitudinally extending vanes rigid with said elongated member with the trailing ends of the vanes extending rearwardly of said elongated member, and a plurality of flexible streamers attached to said elongated member inwardly of the trailing ends of the vanes and projecting longitudinally behind the vanes, and two additional projections on said elongated member adjacent the nose with the projections being aligned with the vanes, each of said projections being in the form of a rod-like structure which combines with the elongated member to form a hook-like member for engagement by said launching stick. 
     
     
       3. In a lawn game device, a launching stick for launching an inclined, stationary, ground supported projectile having an upwardly extending hook forming element thereon, said launching stick comprising an elongated handle for manual gripping and swinging in an arcuate path in a manner similar to a golf club or hockey stick, said handle having a downwardly opening laterally offset arch at the lower end of said handle, said arch having an open lower end adapted to straddle the projectile as the arch moves toward the hook forming element thereon, said arch including parallel, spaced legs, and having a resilient band interconnecting the terminal ends of said legs and engaging the hook forming element on the projectile for causing the projectile to be launched in an arcuate trajectory.